Francois Valle
was born on Jan 2, 1716 in Beauport, Quebec, Canada. He was
christened on the Jan 3rd. Francois came to Ste Genevieve in 1749
and founded the Valle Mining Company. Francois was born to
Charles La Valle and Genevieve Marcoux. All of the Valle's from
Ste Genevieve descend from Charles and Genevieve.

Francois Valle married Marianne Billeron on Jan 17, 1746. Yet, my
lineage follows through a daughter Marguerite that he fathered
through an unknown Indian Woman presumably born around

Valles' Mines started when Francois Valle came here from Quebec
in 1749 to buy lead from the Indians and stayed to mine. 251
years later, the Valle Mining Company* labors on in a Reclamation
Project of the 8 square miles of lands. Mining has not been all
bad, leaving us with 10-acre lakes and miles and miles of roads,
wagon trails and paths in a huge forest.

The forest has grown up around Valles' hand-dug mines, the Rocky
Digs. They now sit in the 240 acre Wildlife Preserve Area #1.
Thanks to Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (636-343-6200, Fenton,
MO) allowing us to be a Release Site for rehabilitated wildlife,
we have been able to restore the native populations of red foxes,
raccoons, ground hogs and possums. This spring around the lakes
in Preserve Area #2, flocks of 55 turkeys were spotted and Canada
geese and Blue Heron have become regulars. The Preserves are
designated No-Hunt zones and open all year. Patrolled regularly,
the other 3000 adjoining acres close during deer season.

*Valle Mining Company, a Missouri corporation. With former mills
and works in Valles Mines, Missouri, the property now serves as a
tree farm. http://www.vallesmines.com/